Reading a floor plan like an architect (without the degree)

A floor plan is the cheapest way to see a house before you visit it, and the cheapest way to avoid visiting the wrong one. You only need to know where to look.

Follow the light

Find north. Rooms facing south get the most light; north-facing rooms stay cool and even. Put your kitchen and living space where you spend the daylight hours.

Trace the journey

Walk the plan with your finger from the front door to the kitchen, the bedroom and the garden. If you pass through a bedroom to reach a bathroom, you will notice every morning.

Good houses have short, obvious routes.

Count the doors

Doors tell you about use. A house with fewer, wider openings usually lives better than one with many small rooms.

Finally, check the storage. No plan ever has enough, and every buyer eventually wishes it did.